“The Babbler”… This is how I know him from my father. A boxer with a big heart and a much bigger mouth. Muhammad Ali, heavyweight world champion and the Greatest in history.

For years, my father was a boxing commentator. He personally knew the big names of this sport as Teofilo Stevenson, the Cuban heavyweight who dominated the amateur boxing world, or Floyd Mayweather, back in time when the American was severely beaten by a Romanian at the Amateur World Championships in Germany. He also knows the Romanian boxers Mihai Leu, Francis Vaştag or Leonard Doroftei, all professional or amateur world champions, and many others.

He always spoke about all of these boxers to superlative. But I know that in his soul Ali was special. Every time when he told me stories about a boxer he used to remember the Great Babbler. If a boxer had a great hook, my father used to say that the hook was like Ali’s. Or if a boxer had a good movement in the boxing ring, that boxer knows to dances like Ali. Every time the term for comparison was Ali. Ali was unique.

The moment he left the boxing ring, Ali entered into the legend

I know the stories of his legendary matches from The Thrilla in Manila to The Rumble in the Jungle. Who can forget his battles with Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier and George Foreman. When I heard this stories from my dad I was goose bumps.

But… he is not with us anymore. Yet, he will live forever. For all that he did and for everything he gave to the world of boxing. Because the moment he left the boxing ring, Ali entered into the legend. And now…

Ali went to heaven to tell also to the angels about his legendary battles.

My father is not as fortunate as yours to know boxers, but he too always speaks in awe of Muhammed Ali. (Something we share in common). I’ve gone back and watched some old fights and he was amazing. And he stood up for what he believed. He will be missed

Awe, I loved reading about your father. your father sounds like an amazing man. He raised an amazing daughter. Ali inspired so many. I could listen to him for hours with genius rhythms and quotes. He is a legend! Thank you for writing this post 🙂 It’s so moving ❤

After Trump announced his plan to ban all Muslims from entering the US, Ali condemned it and the Republican loud-mouth without even having to mention his name:
I am a Muslim and there is nothing Islamic about killing innocent people in Paris, San Bernardino, or anywhere else in the world. True Muslims know that the ruthless violence of so called Islamic jihadists goes against the very tenets of our religion.
We as Muslims have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda. They have alienated many from learning about Islam. True Muslims know or should know that it goes against our religion to try and force Islam on anybody.
Speaking as someone who has never been accused of political correctness, I believe that our political leaders should use their position to bring understanding about the religion of Islam and clarify that these misguided murderers have perverted people’s views on what Islam really is.